Novel 16-halomethyl steroids and processes



aim figs 3,%5,239 Patented Nov. 20, 1952 and in which R may be ,B-hydroxyl or keto, R may be hydrogen or lower alkanoyl, X may be hydrogen or halogen, Y is halogen, R may be hydrogen or alkyl and the dotted line between carbons 1 and 2 indicates that there may be either a single or a double bond between those two carbons.

These new steroids of our invention possess extra high anti-inflammatory activity considerably greater than that of the parent steroids. They are especially eifective for the treatment of arthritis and related diseases since they can be administered for their cortisone-like action in low dosage thereby minimizing undesired side effects.

The compounds of our invention are prepared from the corresopnding 16a and 16;? alkyl steroids by a series of reactions which are shown in the schematic chemical flow sheet of Table 1. The details of the reaction shown in this flow sheet are to be found in the examples and the definitions of the various alternative groups are shown at the bottom of the table.

TABLE 1 CHaOAc CHzOAc 6=N-bromosuccinarnide or N-chlorosuccinamide 7=AgF 8=acid or base hydrolysis In general, the starting materials for the preparation of the compounds of our invention are 16cc or 16;? alkyl- 1l-oxygenated-17a,21-dihydr0xy-4 pregnene-3,2O diones and ll-oxygenated-IM, 21-dihydroXy-1,4-pregnadiene- 3,20-diones, in which the substituent on carbon 11 is either a keto or a fi-hydroxyl and in which the carbon 9 has either (ac-hydrogen or rut-halogen. These starting materials are known compounds such as: 9a-fiuoro-11fi,l7oc,21-trihydroxy-16a-rnethyl-1,4-pregnadiene 3,20 dione; 9afluoro-l1fl,17u,2l-trihydroxy 16fi-rnethyl 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20-dione; 1lfi,l7a,21-trihydroxy-l6a methyl- /g 1'; L/ X O CHaOH ('lHzoH t ---OH "OH R; 011-115 Iii- *o-m,

l l l X l X Definitions:

R =hydroxy or keto R =alkylidene of same number of carbons as R R =alkyl one carbon less than R or H if R is methyl X=hydrogen or halogen Y =Br or C1 Ac=acetyl (other lower alkanoyl groups could also be used) Reactants:

1=sernicarbazide base plus hydrochloride 7O 2=acetic acid plus acetic anhydride 3:hot aqueous acetic acid 4=an organic peracid 5 :strong acid (e.g., HBr, HCl, HF, H010 CF COOH, etc.)

1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione; ll,B,l7a,2l-trihydroxy 16,8

methyl-lA-pregnadiene 3,20-dione; 17u,2 1-dihydroxyl6ot-methyl-l,4-pregnadiene 3,11,20-trione; 17a, 21 dihydroxy-16fi-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20 trione; 90cfluoro-l1fl,17u,21-trihydroxy 16a methyl-4-pregnene- 3,20-dione; 9afiUOIOl 1B,17a,21-trihydroxy 16B-methyl- 4-pregnene-3,20 dione; 11/i,17a,21-trihydroxy 16amethyl-4-pregnene 3,20 dione; 11 ,B,17a,2l trihydroxyl6fl-methyl 4 pregnene-3,20-dione; 17a,21-dihydroxy- 16a-methyl-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione; 170:,21-dil1jdl'OXY- 16,8-methyl-4pregnene 3,11,20-trione; 9a-bIOInO-17uc, 21dihydroxy-16a-methyl4-pregnene 3,11,20 trione; 9ix-chloro-17a,2l-dihydroxy-16a-methyl 4 pregnene- 3,11,20-trione, and the like as well as the corresponding 160a and 16B ethyl, propyl, and butyl compounds.

The intermediates in the reaction scheme shown in Table 1 are claimed elsewhere. The novel steps and the products of this invention start in the reaction scheme with the reaction number 6, the reaction with N-bromosuccinimide.

In general, in the products of our invention, R in the general formula can thus be a keto or a ,B-hydroxy. R can be hydrogen or alkanoyl. R in the starting material is alkyl, preferably methyl. R is hydrogen or alkyl, preferably hydrogen. The alkanoyl group on the C hydroxyl is preferably acetyl as shown by the group Ac in the schematic flow sheet. It may, however, be any other con- Venient lower alkanoyl group. The a substituent on C may be either hydrogen or an u-halogen. Various 90c halogen substances of the starting materials such as the 904 bromo, chloro, and preferably the fluoro derivatives are known.

The A -16-haloalkyl and 16-haloalkylidene steroids of our invention, which possess extremely high anti-inflammatory activity, may be administered orally, parenterally or topically. Thus, the active ingredient can be administered alone or may be associated with a carrier. A smaller quantity of the active A -haloalkyl and l6-haloalkylidene steroids may be administered to the patient and have the same therapeutic effect as larger quantities of other steroids such as cortisone or hydrocortisone. Any of the carriers used in pharmaceutical practice may be employed where there is no incompatibility with the active materials. The composition may take the form of tablets, powders, capsules, elixirs, syrups or other dosage forms which are particularly useful for oral ingestion. Liquid diluents are employed in sterile condition for parenteral use, namely, by injection. Such a medium may be a sterile solvent for the active material. For topical administration any of the known dermatologic vehicles may be employed. Such vehicles for external application include water-soluble ointment bases, oils, petrolatum and jellies.

The invention can be illustrated by the following examples:

Example 1 "i Ha! 0H.

Q nadiene3,20-dione is filtered, washed with water, and dried in air.

When the correspondingly substituted compounds are substituted for the fluoro-trihydroxy-methyl-pregnadienedione in the above procedure, there are prepared the 3,20- disemicarbazone of 9u-fluoro-1lfi,17a,21-trihydroxy-16fimethyl-l,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione, 3,20disemicarbazone of 11,8,17a,2l-trihydroxy-16a-methyl-1,4 pregnadiene- 3,20-dione; 3,20 disemicarbazone of 11;8,17a,21-trihydroxy-16fi-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene 3,20-dione; 3,20-disemicar-bazone of l7a,21-dihydroxy 16a methyl 1,4- pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione; 3,20-disemicarbazone of 170:, 21-dihydroxy-16,8-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene 3,11,20 trione; 3,20-disemicarbazone of 9a fluoro 11B,17a,21-trihYdIOXy-c methyl-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione; 3,20-disemicarbazone of 90L-flllO1'O 11fi,17a,21 trihydroxy-16emethyl 4 pregnene-3,20-dione; 3,20-disemica-rbazone of 11,8,17ot,2l-trihydroxy 16cc methyl 4 pregnene-3,20- dione; 3,20 disemicarbazone of llfi,l7a,2l trihydroxy- -methyl-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione; 3,20-disemicarbazone of 17a,2l-dihydroxy 16oz methyl 4 pregnene 3,11, ZO-trione and 3,20-disemicarbazone of 17a,21-dihydroxy- 16,6-methyl-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione and the like.

Example 2 CHzOAC A solution of 500 mg. of the 3,20-disemicarbazone of 90a fluoro-l 1/5, 17a,21-trihydroxy-1Got-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione in 10 ml. of acetic acid and 0.5 ml. acetic anhydride is refluxed under nitrogen for one hour to produce the corresponding 3,20-disemicarbazone of 1113,21 dihydroxy 16 methyl 1,4,16 pregnatriene-3, 20-dione ZI-acetate. The reaction mixture is cooled, 13 ml. of water is added and the mixture heated on the steam bath for 5 hours. It is then concentrated in vacuo nearly to dryness and water and chloroform added. The mixture is thoroughly extracted with chloroform, and the chloroform extract washed with excess aqueous potassium bicarbonate, saturated salt solution and dried over magnesium sulfate. Chromatography of the residue on neutral alumina and crystallization of pertinent benzenechloroform fractions gives 9a-fluoro-1113,2.1-dihydroxy- 16-methyl-1,4, 16-pregnatriene-3,20-dione ZI-acetate.

Similar treatment of the 3,20-disemicarbazone of 9afiuoro llfl,l7u,2l trihydroxy 16p methyl 1,4 pregnadiene-3,20-dione also leads to 9oc-fll10I0-l1fi,2l-dihydroxy-16-methyl-1,4,16-pregnatriene-3,20-dlione 21-acetate.

In a similar manner 11,8,21-dihydroxy-16-methyl-1,4, 16 pregnatriene 3,20-dione 21-acetate; 21-hydroxy16- methyl-1,4,16-pregnatriene-3,11,20-trione ZI-acetate; 9afiuoro 115,21 dihydroxy 16 methyl 4,16 pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21-acetate; 115,21-dihydroxy-16-methyl- 4,16-pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21-a-cetate; and 21-hydroxyl6-methyl-4,16-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione 21-acetate are obtained by substitution of the correspondingly substituted 3,20-disemicarbazone for the starting material in the above procedure.

When propionic acid and anhydride are substituted for the acetic acid and anhydride in the above procedure, the product is the corresponding 21-propionate of the steroid obtained.

aoeaass Example 3 CI-IzOAc To a stirred solution of 500 mg. of 9a-fl110rO-11B,2ldihydroxy 16 methyl 1,4,16 pregnatriene 3,20-dione 21-acetate in 15 ml. of methylene chloride at C. are added 8 g. of disodium hydrogen phosphate and 2 ml. of 2 M peroxytriiluoracetic acid in methylene chloride. After minutes at 0 C. and 25 for one hour, water is added and the mixture thoroughly extracted with methylene chloride.

The latter extract is washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride and dried over magnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent and crystallization of the residue from acetone-ether gives 9a-fluoro l15,21-dihydroxy- 16B-methyl-16a,17ix-oxido-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21- acetate.

In a similar manner are prepared 116,21-dihydroxy- 16/8-methyl-16a,17a-oxido-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21- acetate; 21-hydroxy-16B-methyl-l6a,17a-oxido-1,4-pregnadiene 3,11,20 trione 21-acetate; 9u-fluoro-1lfi,21-dihydroxy 16B methyl 16,17a oxido 4 pregnene 3,20-clione 21-acetate; 1 1,8,2l-dihydroxy-l6,8-rnethyl-16a, l7a-oxido-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione 21-acetate, and 21-hydroxy 16,8 methyl 16a,17a oxido 4 pregnene 3, 11,20-trione 21-acetate.

Example 4 CHzOAc A solution of 600 mg. of 9ot-fluoro-11,8,21-dihydroxy- 16B methyl 16a,17a oxido 1,4 pregnadiene 3, -dione .2l-acetate in 18 ml. of benzene and 2.5 ml. trifluoracetic acid is maintained at C. for 18 hours. Ethyl acetate ml.) is added followed by suificient 5% sodium carbonate to neutralize the acid present. The organic layer is washed with saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. Crystallization of the residue from ethyl acetate leads to the desired l nt-fluoro- 1113,17oc,21 trihydroxy 16 methylene 1,4 pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21-acetate.

In a similar manner are prepared 11 3,l7a,21-trihydroxy 16-methylene-1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione 21-acetate; 17,21 dihydroxy-l6-methy1ene1,4-pregnadiene-3, 11,2G-trione 21-acetate; 9rx-fiuoro-11/3,17 x,21-trihydroxy- 1G-methylenei-pregnene-3,20-dione 21-acetate; 116,17a, 21 trihydroxy l6 methylene 4 pregnene 3,20 di one 21-acetate; and 17a,21-dihydroxy-16-methylene-4- pregnene-3,11,20-trione ll-acetate.

Alternatively, to a stirred solution of 600 mg. of 90C- fluoro 115,21 dihydroxy 16,8 methyl 16a,l7ot oxido-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21-acetate in 2.4 ml. of tetrahydrofuran is added 3.5 ml. of a 2:1 by weight mixture of hydrogen fluoride in tetrahydrofuran. After 2 hours at 15 the reaction mixture is pipetted slowly into excess cold aqueous sodium carbonate solution. The

mixture is extracted with chloroform and the chloroform extract washed with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride. Chromatography of the residue on neutral alumina also leads to the desired 9ot-fluoro-115,17ot,21-trihydroxy 16 methylene 1,4 pregnadiene 3,20 dione 2l-acetate.

Example 5 OHzOAc ----o Ho l former Three hundred mg. of the 9ct-fiuoro-l15,17a,21-trihydroxy 16 methylene-1,4-pregnadiene3,ZO-dione 21-acetate prepared in Example 4 is mixed with 8 ml. of tertiary butyl alcohol. The mixture is stirred at 15 C., 1.5 cc. of water is then added followed by 265 mg. of N- bromosuccini-mide. The reaction mixture is stirred at 25 C. for six hours. At the end of that time a few drops of 5% aqueous sodium sulfite is added to decolorize the reaction mixture and the solvent is removed under vacuum. About 10 cc. of water is then added and the crystalline residue is washed with water and dried to yield the 9a-luoro-l1,8,21-dihydroxy-16-bromomethyl- 16a,l'la-oxido-l,4r-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione 21-acetate.

In a similar manner when the corresponding IG-alkyh one steroid is substituted in the above preparation, there are obtained 11[3,21-dihydroxy-16-bromomethyl16a,17@toxido-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21-acetate; 2l-hydrox 16a,l7a-oxido-16-brornomethyl-l,4-pregnadiene 3,11,29- trione Zl-acetate; 9a-fluoro-1i15,21-dihydroxy-16,17ttoxido-16-bromomethyl-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione 2=1-acetate; 1lB,2l-dil1ydroxy-l6a,l7a-oxido-l6-brornomethyl-4 pregnene3,20-dione 21-acetate; and 21hydroxy-l6a,17aoxido-l6-bromornethyl-4-pregnene-3,11,2G-trione 21-acetate.

When N-chlorosuccinimide is substituted in equivalent quantities for N-bromosuccinimide in any of the above preparations, the corresponding l6-chloroalkyl compound is obtained.

Example 6 CI-IzOAc '00 do. 1 U fth iY iY To a stirred solution of 800 mg. of the .16-haloalkyl- 16a,17tt-oxide (product of Example 5) in 10 ml. of glacial acetic acid at 15 C. is added 10 ml. of 7% hydrogen chloride in acetic acid at 15. (Alternatively, similar results are obtained with 800 mg. of 16-halornethyl-16ot, 17a-oxide in 5 ml. of acetone and 1 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid cooled to l0-l5.) In either case after 20 minutes at 10-15 water is added and the solid product is filtered, Washed with Water and dried in air to give a mixture of the corresponding A -16-halomethyl and l-halomethylene steroids. This mixture is separated into its components by chromatography on Whatman #3 filter paper (40 mg. per 6" x 2-0" sheet) utilizing formamide as the stationary phase and chloroform benzene 1:9 as the mobile phase. The appropriate band (visible under ultraviolet light) is cut out, eluted with methanol, and the methanol concentrated to dryness in CHzOAc vacuum. Water is added to the residue, the solid filtered, washed with water and dried in air. Pure crystalline material is obtained in each case by crystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane or acetone-ether. Thus, when the 16-bromalkyl-16a,17aoxide product of Example 5 is used, the product obtained is a mixture of 9a-fiI1OIO-11fi, 17oz, 21-trihydroxy, l6-bromomethyl-l,4,15-pregnatriene- 3,20-dione 2l-acetate, and 9u-fluoro-11,17u,21-trihydroxy-l6-bromomethylene-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione 21- acetate which is separated as described above.

In a similar manner, the corresponding A -16-chloromethyl and l 6-chloromethylene compounds are prepared by starting with the corresponding 1606,170L-OXid6S prepared in Example 5.

Example 7 CHzOAc I HO Toms To the l6-bromalkyl-l6ut,17z-oxide (200 mg.) (product of Example in ml. of acetonitrile is added 500 mg. of silver fluoride. The reaction mixture is refluxed under nitrogen for 4 hours, cooled and concentrated to dryness in vacuo. Water is added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract is washed with 50% saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue is slurried in Water and filtered to yield the corresponding l6-fluoromethyl-l6,l7-oxidosteroid purified by crystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane. When any of the other 16-bromoalkyl products of Example 5 are similarly treated in the above procedure, the corresponding 16-fluoromethyl compound is obtained.

Example 8 CEIQO AC do I CH OAG t Qfi Example 9 (IJH2OH CO CHaOH and Either compound is obtained by treatment of 200 mg; of the corresponding Zl-acetate (the product of Example 8) in\10 ml. of methanol With 200 mg. of potassium bicarbonate in 3 ml. of water under nitrogen at reflux for 10 minutes. The mixture is cooled, neutralized with 0.3 ml. of acetic acid in 5 ml. of water, the methanol removed in vacuo and the product extracted into ethyl acetate. Concentration of the ethyl acetate gives respectively 9afluoro-l1,8,17a,21-trihydroxy 16 fluoromethylene-l,4- pregnadiene-3,20-dione or 9a-fiUOI0-11,8,17u,21 trihydroxy-l6-fiuoromethyl-1,4,15-pregnadiene-3,20-di0ne depending on the starting material used.

In a similar manner may be obtained l1,8,17ot,21-trihydroxy l6 fluoromethylene 1,4 pregnadiene-3,20- dione; l7a,2l-dihydroxy 16 fluoromethylene-l,4-pregnadiene-3,l1,20-trione; 9a-fluoro 17a,21 dihydroxy-16- fiuoromethylene 4 pregnene-3,l1,20-trione; 9a-fluorollfs,l7a,2l-trihydroxy 16 fluoromethylene-4-pregnene- 3,20-di0ne; 17a,21-dihydroxy 16 fluoromethylene-4- pregnene-3,l1,20-trione; and 1lfi,l7ot,2l-trihydroxy-l6- fluoromethylene 4 pregnene-3,20-dione and the corresponding 16-fluoromethyl-A -compounds.

By the same procedure, the free 21-hydroxy steroids corresponding to the 21-acetoxy compounds of Example 6 are prepared.

We claim as our invention:

1. Compounds of the formula:

OHzORz in which R is selected from the group consisting of [3- hydroxyl and keto, R is selected from the group consiting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl, X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen, Y is halogen, R is hydrogen, and the dotted line between carbons 1 and 2 indicates a selection from the group consisting of a C C double bond and a C -C single bond.

2. 16-fluoromethyl- -pregnadiene 11,6,l7a.,21 triol 3,20-dione.

3. 16 fluoromethyl- -pregnatriene,1=l,B,17a,21 triol 3,20-dione.

4. 16 fluoromethyl 'pregnatriene,170;,21 diol 3,11,20-trione.

5. 9a-fluoro 16 fluoromethyl- *pregnadieue,11/3, 17,21-tri0l 3,20-dione.

6. 9a-flll010 16 fluoromethyl- 'pregnatriene,11,6, 17a,2l-triol-3,20-dione.

7. 9a-fluoro l6 fluoromethyl' -pregnatriene,17a, 21-diol-3,11,20-trione.

8. 9a-fluoro 16 bromomethyl- 'pregnatriene,1lfi, 17a,2l-triol-3,20-dione.

9. 9ot-fiuoro 16 chloromethyl 'pregnatriene,116, c,21-tfi0l-3,20-Cli0116.

l0. Compounds of the formula OHzORz in which R is selected from the group consisting of 3- hydroxyl and keto, R is selected from the group consiting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl, X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen, Y is halogen, R is hydrogen, and the dotted line between carbons l and 2 indicates a selection from the group consisting of a C -C double bond and a C -C single bond.

11. llfi,l7a,2l-trihydroxy 16 fluorornethylene-4- pregnene-3,20-dione.

12. 1lfi,17a,21-trihydroxy 16 fluorornethylene-l,4- pregnadiene-B,20-dione.

13. 17a,21-dihydroXy 16 fluoromethylene-l,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione.

l4. 9a-fluoro 11B,17ot,21 trihydroxy-l6-fluoromethylene-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione.

15. 9(Xr'flUO1'O l7a,21 dihydroxy-16-fluoromethy1ene- 4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione.

17. 9a-fluoro 17:,21 dihydroxy-l6-fluoromethylene- 1,4-pregnadiene-3 1,20-trione.

methylene-1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione.

19. The process of preparing compounds of the structure is i the halogen is selected from the group consisting of 9 A: bromine and chlorine and isolating the resultant lfi-haloalkyl-l6or,l7a-epoxy steroid.

20. The process of producing compounds of the structure:

and compounds of the structure:

in which R is selected from the group consisting of 5- hydroxyl and keto, R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl, X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen, Y is halogen, R is hydrogen and the dotted line between carbons l and 2 indicates a selection from the group consisting of a C C double bond and a C C single bond which comprises converting the corresponding 16- haloalkyl-l6a,17oc-ep0Xy steroid wherein said halo group is selected from the group consisting of chloro and bromo by refluxing it in acetonitrile solution with silver fluoride and isolating the l-fluoroalkyl-16ix,l7a-ep0xy steroid, converting the said l6-fluoroalkyl-l6a,Not-epoxy steroid to a mixture of l6-fluoroalkylidenyl-l7a-hydroXy-steroid and A -16-fiu0roalkyl 171x hydroXy steroid by stirring in a solution of HCl in an organic solvent, isolating said mixture and separating the two products.

No references cited. 

1. COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA:
 20. THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING COMPOUNDS OF THE STRUCTURE: 